09-04-2014, 09:45 AM
I made a late start this morning due to having had a very long day yesterday. I'm afraid I can't match Col and be in the Garage at 6:30 so it was all of 8:30 when I wandered down the Garden to get everything started.
Greenhouse first and I was surprised to find that the Propagator Temperature was low, which was surprising as the Sun was quite bright. No matter, it didn't get too low over night and all the Plants seemed fine.
Garage next where I was met with the classic 'Acrid smell'. It didn't take long to discover that the RCD had tripped - that explains the Propagator Temperature - and the Compressor Motor was looking very sorry for itself
Clearly the Motor had Stalled, not recovered, and the rest is History as they say.
This was when it all came back to me. Yesterday, when I was down there, I noticed that the Motor was very tardy starting up. That usually means that the Compressor needs some Oil in its Sump. When in this state the Motor manages half a turn, stalls against the Pressure, the Valves leak down a bit and away it goes. The 'fix' is lubrication. It's quite a strong Motor and normally just starts up. I intended to switch it off over night until I could get to it but of course I forgot.
The good news is that the Protection worked and nothing caught fire. The bad new is that I've now got a job didn't need at the moment. I've got other Motors, even one from another Compressor, and I'm sure I can fix it, but I had other plans for today. Still, the Sun is shining, SWMBO is going out, so with luck I can get on with it in peace.
I'll report back.
Alan
Greenhouse first and I was surprised to find that the Propagator Temperature was low, which was surprising as the Sun was quite bright. No matter, it didn't get too low over night and all the Plants seemed fine.
Garage next where I was met with the classic 'Acrid smell'. It didn't take long to discover that the RCD had tripped - that explains the Propagator Temperature - and the Compressor Motor was looking very sorry for itself
Clearly the Motor had Stalled, not recovered, and the rest is History as they say.
This was when it all came back to me. Yesterday, when I was down there, I noticed that the Motor was very tardy starting up. That usually means that the Compressor needs some Oil in its Sump. When in this state the Motor manages half a turn, stalls against the Pressure, the Valves leak down a bit and away it goes. The 'fix' is lubrication. It's quite a strong Motor and normally just starts up. I intended to switch it off over night until I could get to it but of course I forgot.
The good news is that the Protection worked and nothing caught fire. The bad new is that I've now got a job didn't need at the moment. I've got other Motors, even one from another Compressor, and I'm sure I can fix it, but I had other plans for today. Still, the Sun is shining, SWMBO is going out, so with luck I can get on with it in peace.
I'll report back.
Alan